On Saturday, September 13, the statewide nonprofit Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC), in partnership with Colorado Springs Utilities and Habitat Management Inc., will be leading volunteers in critical fire restoration efforts at the Waldo Canyon burn scar area. Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia will address volunteers at the project site to mark Colorado United Day, a statewide day of service that commemorates the one year anniversary of last year’s historic floods.

Colorado United Day brings together volunteers from all over the state for a dedicated workday that continues recovery efforts in Colorado’s flood, fire and other disaster damaged communities. Colorado United Day was created by the Colorado Recovery Office and SERVE Colorado, the Governor’s Commission on Community Service.

"We appreciate the Governor and Lt. Governor’s leadership in ensuring Colorado recovers fully from these horrific natural disasters. VOC is committed to engaging volunteers for long-term recovery in Colorado’s flood and fire-damaged communities,” said Ann Baker Easley, VOC’s executive director. “The 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire was one of the most devastating events in Colorado Springs' history and its impact is still being felt today. Colorado United Day is a great reminder that Coloradans are resilient and determined to build back better and stronger.”

Volunteers on the Waldo Canyon project will help mitigate flooding and repair fire damage. These burn areas are now subject to erosion and mudslides which threaten Colorado Springs' municipal water supply, Highway 24, and public and private infrastructure. Work will involve removal of burned hazard trees, re-shaping the ground surface, sand-bagging, re-seeding, tree and seedling planting, and building erosion control structures to stabilize drainages.

Funding support for this project came from Colorado Springs Utilities, Xcel Energy, REI, Lockheed Martin,, Oracle, Clif Bar & Company, The Anschutz Foundation, Helen K. and Arthur E. Johnson Foundation, and John G. Duncan Charitable Trust.